Podcasts for Middle Grade Students

Inspire young writers with this innovative series in which award-winning children's authors interview a kid or tween with a great story idea, and then write and read aloud a story inspired by the kid's idea. Kids can submit a "story seed" on the podcast's website and join The Story Seeds Society to get writing prompts and inspiration.

History meets humor in this silly series that introduces little-known stories (like the origin of Typhoid Mary) and unsung heroes from the past. 

This fun and fast-moving spin-off of the popular Brains On! podcast is a kid-friendly debate podcast. A kid judge listens to and scores the rousing, fact-based arguments of two contestants. 

The show challenges its listeners’ preconceived notions about how the world works. Radiolab provokes, it moves, it delights, and it asks its audience to see the world around them anew. 

Science Friday with Ira Flatow covers a variety of complex science topics, from the first Apollo moon landing to climate change to how exercise affects the heart. 

One of the largest oral history projects of its kind, StoryCorps has recorded the stories of over 250,000 people in the U.S.

Little-known history comes alive three times a week in this fascinating, comprehensive podcast from the people at HowStuffWorks. 

This I Believe was a radio series on NPR (now archived) that focused on the writing, sharing, and discussing of people's core beliefs through short personal essays.

From the people behind the award-winning website HowStuffWorks, this frequently updated podcast explains the ins and outs of everyday things from the major ("How Free Speech Works") to the mundane ("How Itching Works"). 

Tumble is a science podcast that shares the stories behind science discovery. It explores how science actually works as a process. With stories ranging from reaching the deepest part of the ocean to hunting for black holes in distant galaxies, Tumble is co-hosted by a science journalist and a teacher.

In every episode of this podcast, a different group of kids discusses a young adult book. Each episode also features a celebrity reader and an interview with the book’s author.

AGC empowers girls in a safe, inclusive space, allowing them to share their unique voices by connecting them to powerful women, whose stories they share on their national audience reaching podcast.  

The Library Club students of Greene Middle School and Mrs. Collins, the Librarian, argue about books -- which authors are the best, whether Harry Potter is still worth reading, the book vs. the movie, etc.

Short & Curly is an ethics podcast from Australia. The hosts investigate dilemmas relevant to kids, like whether you have to love your sibling or whether Pokemon Go is actually playing you.

This Australian podcast is devoted to showcasing true stories of Australian women. Fierce Girls presents stories about everything from athletes to spies, with the unifying theme of adventurous girls with "guts and spirit." 

But Why aims to answer kid questions about everything from nature, politics, culture, science, even the end of the world. You can submit your own questions, too; instructions are on the website.

An award-winning weekly sports magazine for the serious sports fan and the steadfast sports avoider

In this podcast, Dan explores happiness (whatever that means) from all angles. Dan continues his search for peace of mind and happiness as he interviews “smart people” on their search for greater enlightenment.

In her podcast, Gretchen encourages Elizabeth to put her suggestions into practice, while giving listeners tips about everything from scheduling time to worry to impulsiveness. If you want to put some of Gretchen’s advice into practice right now.

These calming stories teach mindfulness and meditation, and are a perfect introduction to cultivating this life-long skill. 

Learn Spanish with Eat Your Spanish-- an interactive Spanish learning podcast for kids and families! 

Eleven-year-old Holiday is pulled from the icy waters of Alaska with no memory of who she is or where she came from. Are her mom and dad really who they say they are? And when she begins to develop incredible abilities, she’ll soon discover she’s not alone in the world. 

Every week, Outdoor News Radio explores timely outdoors topics emerging from Minnesota, the Upper Midwest, and around the country. For one hour, host Rob Drieslein, managing editor and president of Outdoor News, Inc., interviews a slate of natural resource experts, conservation advocates, and outdoors scribes.  

Covering all things whitetail, in each episode we share new strategies, expert interviews and discuss our own stories throughout the hunting season.